Teleophthalmology through handheld mobile devices: a pilot study in rural Nepal

The utility of eye screening examinations using portable mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets in developing countries is still largely unexplored. However, several publications and systematic reviews suggest that teleophthalmology can provide cost effective ophthalmic assessments comparable in quality to an in-person exam. This can be feasible even in the most rural corners of the world as the rate of mobile phone usage and wireless internet connectivity is increasing fastest in low and middle income countries to near ubiquitous levels, often surpassing access to clean water and food. The growing availability of mobile devices with wireless connectivity and high quality in-phone camera technology combine to make mobile device-based teleophthalmology a promising diagnostic tool in resource-limited settings.